Thunder vs. Pelicans Game Preview | March 11
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans (32-34, 10th) and Oklahoma City Thunder (31-35, 12th) are both battling for a spot in the NBA Playoffs Play-In tournament. New Orleans currently occupies the final postseason spot but there are 8 teams within 4 games of each other in the middle of the Western Conference standings.
The Pelicans are just two games behind the fifth-place LA Clippers (35-33) entering Friday but just 1.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers, who are sitting in 13th with a date in the Smoothie King Center lined up for tomorrow. Oklahoma City would tie New Orleans with a win.
The Thunder have lost three straight road games but they could be catching New Orleans at just the right time. Brandon Ingram (ankle) is questionable to play following an early exit from Wednesday’s key win over Dallas. Zion Williamson (right hamstring strain), Jose Alvarado (right tibial stress reaction), and Larry Nance Jr. (left ankle sprain) are all listed as out on the injury report.
Feb 27, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles against Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
E.J. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery) and Dereon Seabron (G League two-way) are also unavailable for New Orleans. New Orleans is still favored to win though, and they have 20 wins in the 30 contests it has been listed as the favorite in this season. Oklahoma City has won only 11 road games all season, the same mark as the Pelicans.
- When: Saturday, March 11 @ 6:30 PM CT
- Where: New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center
- Watch: Bally Sports NO, ESPN
- Listen: 99.5 WRNO
The Thunder, 0-3 straight up against the Pelicans this season and coming off a 132-101 loss Wednesday, will be without Kenrich Williams (wrist) and Chet Holmgren (foot). Jalen Williams (wrist) sat out the Thunder's last game, as did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Aleksej Pokusevski (leg). Gilgeous-Alexander sat as a precaution due to the back-to-back game nights but Pokusevski has been out for over a week.
Williamson and Gilgeous-Alexander are expected to be available so fans should expect a shootout. CJ McCollum is a man on a mission following a 32-point night against Dallas. New Orleans is averaging 114.1 points per game, only 2.9 fewer points than the 117.0 the Thunder give up.
Mar 6, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard CJ McCollum (3) looks to pass the ball between Sacramento Kings point guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) and shooting guard Terence Davis (3) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Thunder’s 118.2 points per game are just 4.8 more points than the 113.4 the Pelicans allow. Oklahoma City is the second-best team scoring-wise. New Orleans ranks 15th in the league defensively (113.4 PPG).
McCollum is determined to not miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Coach Willie Green admitted, with Zion and B.I. busted up, “(McCollum) understands the magnitude of our games coming up. We’re leaning on him a ton.”
“No excuse, just produce. Figure out a way to get the job done. That’s what it's going to take for us down the stretch,” McCollum said after beating Dallas. “Make or miss, I've got to be aggressive for us and make something happen.”
McCollum added, "We've got to figure things out and keep our hopes alive. Make sure we are doing all we can, that I'm doing all I can, to make this my 10th straight year in the playoffs."
Projected Starting Lineups:
Thunder: Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams
Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, Jonas Valanciunas
Read More Pelicans Scoop Articles:
- Coach Green Comments On Team's Body Language
- Breaking Down Pelicans Offense: Beyond the Arc
- CJ McCollum Career At A Crossroads
- Handicapping the Playoff Race
- NBA Championship Formula Revisited
- Willie Green's Rotations Need More Time To Build Rhythm
- Herb Jones As Center Unlocks Options For Pelicans
- 5 Lineups To Lean On, And Learn From, These Last 5 Weeks
